A blog launched on the 41st anniversary of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), the first pro-life organisation in the world, established on 11 January 1967. SPUC has been a leader in the educational and political battle against abortion, human embryo experimentation and euthanasia since then. I write this blog in my role as SPUC's chief executive, commenting on pro-life news, reflecting on pro-life issues and promoting SPUC's work.

Monday, 16 April 2012

Must-read pro-life news-stories, Mon 16 April

Top stories:

UK clinic to offer ovarian tissue freezing for first time in UK
A London clinic plans to offer ovarian tissue freezing for the first time in the UK. The procedure involves removing part of one ovary, freezing it and then re-implanting it at a later date. It is being proposed for both medical and social reasons. [Telegraph, 16 April] Pro-life commentators have objected to procedure as contrary to nature.

Huge increase in assisted suicide cases in Oregon and Switzerland
There has been a huge increase in assisted suicide in Oregon and Switzerland, says a UK doctor. Peter Saunders, head of the Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), said that the latest figures suggest that since 1998 assisted suicides have risen by 450% in Oregon and by 700% in Switzerland. Dr Saunders argues that such increases are an inevitable result of legal approval of assisted suicide. [Peter Saunders, 15 April]

US group to fund abortion training for British medical students
An American pro-abortion group is to fund placements at British abortion centres for British medical students. The placements, funded by Medical Students For Choice (MSFC) will last for two weeks. Anthony Ozimic of SPUC told The Guardian newspaper: "This reflects the desperation of the abortion industry to recruit enough interest among medical students. It's been the case for many years that there have been fewer and fewer students and doctors willing to be involved. That's partly due to an increased awareness of the unethical nature of abortion." [Guardian, 6 April]

Sign up for email alerts

John Smeaton

About me

I became involved in SPUC after graduating, when I established a branch in south London in 1974. I have worked full-time for SPUC for 33 years. I became director of SPUC in the UK in 1996, having been general secretary since 1978. I was elected vice-president of International Right to Life Federation in 2005. At UN conferences in Cairo, Copenhagen, Beijing, Istanbul and Rome, I helped coordinate more than 150 pro-life/pro-family groups resulting in pro-life victories in Cairo, Istanbul and Rome. I was educated at Salesian College, London, before going to Oxford where I graduated in English Language and Literature. I qualified as a teacher, becoming head of English at a secondary school. I am married to Josephine. We have a grown-up family and we live in north London.

Acknowledgement

I am grateful to SPUC's staff, supporters and advisers for their help to me in researching, writing and producing this blog.

Twitter @spucprolife

Like SPUC's Page on Facebook

Images

I believe that I am allowed to use the images accompanying my blog and that they are licence- and royalty-free. However if the owner or the licensor disagrees, please contact me and I will remove it immediately.